Benson Borough asks two CTMA member to step down

Dissatisfied with its representation, Benson Borough Council called for the voluntary resignation of its appointees to the water authority Monday night.

With unanimous support, council voted in favor of sending letters to Conemaugh Township Municipal Authority appointees John Mastillo and George Knapp asking them to step down.

"Our hope would be they'd be answered by letters of resignation," said Borough council president Kevin Holsopple.

"They have numerous times offered their resignations in the past saying if it was asked for they would."

Holsopple said both Mastillo and Knapp had very different points of view when appointed to the CTMA in 2000.

"I think we failed," he said.

Council member John Conzatti seconded that.

"At first they did work with the best interest of not just Benson Borough, but all the residents of the township," he said. "But they've for some reason gone away from that now."

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The past several years have seen drastic changes in management from the hiring and firing of office managers, assistant managers and the resignation of a manager in protest.

There was also a $25,000 fine from the Department of Environmental Protection.

Talks again started with Greater Johnstown Water Authority late last year over the purchase of water despite failed talks three years earlier when the GJWA attempted to acquire the system.

During several of these issues, Mastillo was serving a chairman of the CTMA.

"I think his leadership and presence on that board is not in the best interest of the borough," said Holsopple.

His call for action was also supported by new council members Andy Hummel and Jon Vogel, who said that in their short time on council they have received numerous complaints about the authority.

"They should answer to the council and the constituents," said Hummel.

"We should have a say of how the general community feels on a situation," added Vogel.

And though they ask for them, council can't force the resignations.

"We're the voice of the people," said Holsopple.

He said council will pursue other legal options if Mastillo and Knapp choose not to resign.

And it appeared council would have to exercise those options as Mastillo said a resignation wasn't coming after being informed of council's request.

"(Benson Borough) is not going to get it. I'm there till the end of the year and so is George."

Knapp also said he had no intention of resigning.

"I'm going to serve my term out," he said. "I'm there and I'm staying. There's too much going on and I'm not going to resign."

Mastillo said he and Knapp have been acting in the best interests of the authority and not acting just on Benson Borough's wishes. He said there is no reason for himself or Knapp to report back to council.

"We don't have to. It's a public meeting. They can come to the meeting," said Mastillo. "We're there to represent them but at the same time were not there to go ahead and just represent Benson Borough."

He said the move is purely political as it was last year when Benson Borough attempted to act on a resignation letter Mastillo sent and then withdrew.

"What they tried to do last year was illegal. It backfired on them," he said.

Mastillo said he has no respect for Holsopple because of that.

"I do have respect for the customers of this system. Just because he and I don't see eye to eye politically doesn't mean I won't do what's best for them."